[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 77 (Thursday, May 22, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN RECOGNITION OF USO OF METROPOLITAN NEW YORK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 2003

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to USO of 
Metropolitan New York on the occasion of their 37th Annual Luncheon. 
This year, the USO is honoring Lorraine Bracco as Entertainer of the 
Year and Patricia Fili-Krushel, Vice President of Administration at AOL 
Time Warner, as Woman of the Year. Both women have made outstanding 
contributions to the New York City community.
  The USO, founded in 1941 in response to a request by President 
Franklin D. Roosevelt, is dedicated to providing morale, welfare and 
recreation type services to uniformed military Personnel. They remain 
committed to extending a ``touch of home'' to military members through 
numerous programs and activities. The USO currently operates throughout 
the United States and overseas in 121 centers worldwide.
  Lorraine Bracco, perhaps best known for her portrayal of psychiatrist 
Dr. Jennifer Melfi on the HBO hit series ``the Sopranos'', has earned 
multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations 
for Best Actress in a Drama. Ms. Bracco was also nominated for an 
Academy Award for her performance in the movie ``Goodfellas''. A 
student at Stella Adler and the Actors Studio in New York City, Ms. 
Bracco made her American feature film debut in the 1987 Ridley Scott's 
thriller, ``Someone to Watch Over Me.'' In addition to extensive film 
and television credits, Ms. Bracco is a member of the Board of 
Directors of the environmental organization Riverkeeper, which serves 
to safeguard the Hudson River, its tributaries and the watershed of New 
York City against environmental violations by tracking down and 
stopping polluters. She is also a member of the Board of New York 
Council for the Humanities.
  Patricia Fili-Krushel is the Executive Vice President of 
Administration of AOL Time Warner. In this role, Ms. Fili-Krushel works 
closely with AOL Time Warner's senior management team. Her 
responsibilities include human resources, employee development and 
growth, compensation and benefits, as well as security. Before joining 
AOL Time Warner, Ms. Fili-Krushel was President of the ABC Television 
network from 1998 to 2000 and was responsible for improving the ABC 
television ranking from number 3 to number 1. In 1996, she received the 
prestigious Vision Award for her contributions to the arts. In 1998, 
Ms. Fili-Krushel was featured by Fortune Magazine among its ``50 Most 
Powerful Women'' and in 1999, she received the Women's Project and 
Productions' Women of Achievement award. Ms. Fili-Krushel currently 
sits on the Board of Directors for Second Stage Theater, the Board of 
the Central Park Conservancy, the Board of Center for Communication and 
was recently named to Mayor Bloomberg's Commission on Women's Issues as 
Co-Chair of the Child Care initiative. She has made outstanding 
contributions to the field of communications as well as to improving 
the New York City community through numerous community service 
organizations.
  In recognition of these outstanding contributions, I ask my 
colleagues to join me in honoring the USO of Metropolitan New York on 
the occasion of their 37th Annual Luncheon as well as in honoring 
Lorraine Bracco and Patrician Fili-Krushel for their efforts in 
improving the New York City community.

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